Montanari said the method was already used in Caffarella Park, a large protected area that forms part of the Appia Antica archaeological park in the south-east of the city.

“We would like to extend it to other parks,” Montanari said.

Cash-strapped authorities are struggling to maintain the city’s 44m square metres of green space, described by some as “a jungle”.

The method has also been deployed in the northern city of Turin, which is also led by the Five Star Movement. But in Rome the proposals were mocked by campaign groups set up to protect the city’s parks.

“What will we do with the faeces left by the sheep?” asked Massimo Proetti Rocchi, the president of Friends of Leopardi Park.

Members of the opposition Democratic party were also quick to ridicule the proposal.

“Goodbye to gardeners and lawnmowers!” said Enzo Foschi, a party councillor for the Lazio region. “They’ve already replaced rubbish collectors with seagulls and now this. What will Raggi do during the summer season to get rid of mosquitoes – provide geckoes?”